Capsule



. Nov. 16, 1943. B. BoYsEN CAPSULE Filed Harsh 2o, 1941 .Patented Nov. 16, 1943 UNITEDy STATES PATENT OFFICE' CAPSULE Bigelow Boysen, Chicago. Ill. Application March 20, 1941, Serial No. 384,368 3 claims. (c1. 20s-5s) This invention relatesto capsules or containers for unit dose quantities of liquid, or semiliquid substances, especially adapted for holding such substances safely enclosed and arranged for convenient opening of the capsule when its contents are to be used.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved construction for capsules, especially such as are made of gelatinous material and having improved means for opening the same; to provide such improved form of capsule that it will have a normally sealed discharge mouth provided with lips that can be readily pulled apart for controlling the opening of the capsule or stripping it from its contents.

A further object is to provide an improved construction for capsules of gelatinous or other grainless material; such that will facilitate their being torn open and arranged so that the walls of the capsule will be sure to tear en a predetermined line of severance.

A specic embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation ofa capsule of improved form.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing somewhat diagrammatically certain features of a capsulemaking machine that would be capableof making capsules out of gelatin and in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 6 is a detail sowing a face view of the capsule-forming die in its relation to the strip of gelatin from which the capsules are formed and `showing an arrangement of non-adhesive areas on the surface of the strip which provides for the proper separation of lips of the nished capsule.

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail of the capsule forming die taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 6.

In the form shown the capsule comprises a globular or bulbous body I having at one side a. neck-like protuberance II terminating in a pair of Wing-like lips I2 at opposite sides of the plane represented by the line the plane of the line of juncture on which the walls of the two halves of the capsule shell are united in forming the capsule.

The neck II is preferably tapered to a point at its outer end so as to forman outwardly projecting or bowed closure or mouth I3 with neck walls I4 which converge toward the central part 2 2 of Fig.` 1, which is` of said mouth. The lips I2, as will be seen from Fig. 2, are shaped so that when pulled apart they will cause the mouth to commence to tear open at the point I3 and to gradually spread to charge of the I bulbous body I0 are squeezed together.

An appropriate form o1' mechanism for forming capsules in accordance with this invention is illustrated in Fig. 5 and comprises means for bringing together a pair of webs I6 of gelatin over the peripheries of a pair of forming rollers I1, each'having an annular series of capsule-forming dies I 8 in its periphery so that opposed pairs of these dies will come into registering positions as these capsule-forming rollers rotate in the direction of the arrows I9. Each of the dies I8 has an upstanding rim 2U which is of appropriate outline to form a capsule of the desired shape, as the respective die rims 20 roll one upon the other.

The die-forming rollers I1 are geared together so they rotate in unison in opposite directions about their respective centers and in the direction of the arrows I9.

Positioned in the troughlike space above and between the peripheries of the rollers II is a wedge-shaped filler member 2I which has converging side walls 22 cylindrically curved so as to stand concentric with the peripheries of the forming rollers I'I and meeting in a sharp edge 23. 'I'he ller member is mounted to yield vertically to suit the thickness f the webs of gelatin. The ller member 2I has a heating coil 24 housed within it whereby the lm or Web of gelatinous material may be kept at the proper temperature for the lets 26 through which the uid or 'semi-fluid contents of the capsules are supplied thereto during the forming operation.I

Each of the dies I8 is provided with a rim 20 which throughout its outer contour has its crest lying generally in a cylindrical surface so that when any one of these dies is opposed to the surface 22 of the filler member, this crest will hold the web I 6 of gelatin in duid-tight engagement with the surface 22 of the filler member especially throughout that part of the travel of the die duringwhch it is opposed to the ller inlets 26.

All of that part of the, rim 20 which defines the shape of the capsule and its lip extensions 2 2,ss4,coo

lies at all times exactly in the geometrical surthe heads 34 to yield so as to prevent cutting of face of a cylinder concentric to the axis of the the nlm of gelatin by the dam crest 28, die roller so that when the dies I8 roll: past the It will be understood that the powder or paste line of tngency between the rollers I'I, they will that forms the non-adhesive areas on the lips roll in registering contact with each other and may vary in density fromthe lip margins toward sever the interposed films of gelatin. l the mouth as indicated by stippling or the areas The die rim 21 which delines the contour of 3| in Fig. 6. i This is controlled by variations in the lips may be narrower than the die rim the depth or surface character of the areas 32 since it merely performs a cutting operation; of the printing roller just as the intensity of whereas the die rim 20 has a rounded or beveled 10 ink impressions are controlled in a printing press. orest so that it will perform both the operations As indicated in Fisze. enough powder is applied to of cutting out and sealing the capsule walls. the areas 4| that form the free surfaces of the Each oi the dies, in addition to the crests 2o lips I2 to completely prevent cohesion between and 21, has a dam-like crest member 28 that the lips while at the margins 42 of the imprints spans the neck of the capsule and normally holds 15 3| which ferm the mouth I3 0f the Capsule. the the web of gelatin in fluid tight engagement with powder is thinned out or diiiused so as to permit the surface 22 during the iilling operation, but is Sealing Of the mouth but to weaken the joint spring pressed as to yield inwardly of the geometenough t0 insure that amorphous shell material rical Surface of the cutting edges of the crests tear 0n desired plane 0f Severance at the 2n and 21 so that it will exert pressure enough to 20 mouth when the lips are pulled apart. perform the sealing operation between the two Instead 0f using powder or paste as hereinbemt Where its dis fore-described the separation of the lips I2 might halves of the capsule at the po charge mouth is formed but will not sever rior be accomplished by applying a strip of paper or substantially weaken the walls of gelatin. the like to the face of one of the webs in such In order to prevent the lips I2 from adhering to 25 manner that 1t Wm separate the HPS during the tion of cutting them from the webs of each other throughout the area beyond the mouth Opera 3 their opposed Surfaces are rendered nom gelatinous material. For example, anarrow web of paper might be fed into the machine so as to legresampnately coated mth a' lie between the edge 44 of the web of gelatinous terial andthe dotted line 43 of Fig. 6 and This coating of non-adhesive material may be 30 ma.

supplied to the webs of gelatin by mechanism in rgnoff thls web of paper after the fommg the nature of printing rollers 30 which apply appropriately located areas of non-adhesive ma- The nished Capsule Wm have the form mus trated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and due to the nonmilll tghhgpflg orcpzgo lgiih adhesive nature of the opposite surfaces of the lips I2, these may be readily pulled apart causforms the lips '2' ing the shell of the capsule to tear open at the If dry powder or paste'is used for makmg these mouth I3, which can be enlarged to any desired imprints 3|, the printing mechanism may be of extent or the two parts of the capsule may be the form shown in Fig. 5 1n which the roller` 30 40 pulled completely apart by means of these nps.

has a depressed surface area 32 to receive the The term gelatinous material? as herein used polder 01" Paste from a suitably arranged Supply in the specification and eloims, is intended to device such as the magazine or fountatin 33. include any appropriate amorphous coalescent In Order t0 prevent the up portions of the plastic substance for forming capsule wallsin accapsules from being drawn across the filler outlets cordance with the hereimdescrbed procedure. 26, the lip forming die members are preferably Many of the commodities that could be approplaced et One Side 0f said Openings as Shown in priately packed into lipped capsules of the type Fig. 6, and it will accordingly be understood from herein-described contained water or other sol- Fig. 5 that the printing devices 30 which Supply vents and it is, therefore, to be understood tiret the adhesion preventing Substance t0 the Web 0f 50 the expression gelatinous material is intended gelatin are located in the plane of movement 0f to cover any appropriate substance that could be that part of the die. The crest of the lip cutting used for forming the capsules of shell sections inrib 21 forms a continuation of the crest of the tegrated into one piece without requiring adhedie rim 2D; that is, it lies in the same cylindrical sive bon f' substances provided that it is neither surface therewith. The dam member 28which 55 dissolved@4 such solvents nor has a detrimental closes the mouth I3 at the end of the neck II of influence on the contents. the capsule is in the form of, a plunger having It will be understood that numerous details a head 34 which has a crest 28 that determines of the structure of the capsule and the machine the shape of the end of the neck of the capsule and the method of making the Seme may be a1- with a cavtv 35 facing the cavity of the die I3 60 tered or omitted without departing from the spirit and mergingtherewith to determine the shape of of this mventlon as dened by the followmg the neck or the capsule, and the opposite side claims'. portion 36 of said head 34 is relieved so as to :ic'lm avoid sealing pressure on the lips when they pass of l apnecgnpnsllng adpal; of Shen sections the point' of tangency where the die crests meet. Peis 1c .a ma coa esce. w1 h each other.

Th their margins, a pair of lips formed by regise plunger head 34 is carried by a sha-nk 31 tering opposed marginal exten i hich extends through an abutment 38 in the s ons on sald Sec' W tions, and diiused elements interposed between rim of the die Toner n and is norman-V urged by the margins of said sections adjacent said lip: o Spring 39 into engagement with the gelatin 70 to locally weaken the coalescence of the section: Web- A limit Step fel this eutWaTd movement and deiine a plane of cleavage between said lip: may be a nut 40 on the shank 31. The pressure and into the interior of the capsule, 0f the spring 39 is sufficient to withstand the 2. A capsule comprising a hollow shell formei filling pressure of the liquid as it enters and inof sections of gelatinous material integrated i1 ilates the capsule, but is such that it will allow edge-to-edge abutting relation and having a necl mouth having marginal lip extensions for opening said mouth, said mouth being outwardly convex, and said lips being extended downward along said neck beyond said mouth to localize the tearing of said shell to open said mouth from its center outwardly. and means interposed .between said marginal lip portions to preclude their adhering to each other, said means comprising diffused elements disposed within 'the sealed part of said mouth to weaken the bonding thereof and give direction to the severage of the material at said mouth. e

plastic material, having a pair'of lips forming a sealed mouth, said lips having separable mar-- 3. A capsule comprising a bulbous `shell of Y part of said 

